Gary N. Posted February 19, 2017 #1 Posted February 19, 2017 I was starting to have issues with my start button. Push button, nothing happens. So since my bike has been exposed to the weather for the last couple of months while we are south, I figured the starter switch my have some corrosion. Took it apart and sure enough the contacts were quite corroded. I cleaned them up and put some di-electric grease on them and that seemed to work fine. Yesterday while out for a ride it started to act up again. Press button, nothing happened. Keep trying and eventually it would catch and crank. Was it a mistake to put the di-electric grease on the contacts? Is the starter solenoid on its way out? Today I will check all of my wire connections and load test the battery etc.
bongobobny Posted February 19, 2017 #2 Posted February 19, 2017 Yes, dielectric grease is an insulator, not a conductor... That being said, what did you use to polish up the contacts with? Anything too abrasive and you will wear off the plating. Also, sandpaper will put microscopic grooves in the contacts making them more prone to accumulation crud in the scratches...
Gary N. Posted February 19, 2017 Author #3 Posted February 19, 2017 Yes, dielectric grease is an insulator, not a conductor... That being said, what did you use to polish up the contacts with? Anything too abrasive and you will wear off the plating. Also, sandpaper will put microscopic grooves in the contacts making them more prone to accumulation crud in the scratches... I used some very fine emery paper to clean the contacts Bob. So I guess I should clean the grease off???? I thought it was meant to stop corrosion on electric stuff. BTW I load tested the battery and it's good.
snyper316 Posted February 19, 2017 #4 Posted February 19, 2017 I cleaned mine with that CRC stuff and A toothbrush that came with my brush set, thats How I clean the switches up.... You died what?
MiCarl Posted February 19, 2017 #5 Posted February 19, 2017 Dielectric grease is an insulator at low voltages. Clean it out and see if your problem clears up. I think the CRC electrical cleaner will probably wash it off.
Rafterd Posted February 20, 2017 #6 Posted February 20, 2017 Are you sure it's button problems, or is the solenoid clicking? Maybe bad solenoid? Bill
Gary N. Posted February 20, 2017 Author #7 Posted February 20, 2017 Jumped the terminals on the solenoid and it worked fine. Pulled the connector and the terminals were very corroded so I cleaned with spray cleaner and worked it on and off a few times. Everything seems to be working for now. It'll probably wait to let me down when I'm in the middle of nowhere. At least I know I can jump the terminals on the solenoid if I need to.
Marcarl Posted February 20, 2017 #8 Posted February 20, 2017 This might help http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/images/g/LyIAAOSwu4BVrAVF/s-l225.jpg
Gary N. Posted February 20, 2017 Author #9 Posted February 20, 2017 This might help http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/images/g/LyIAAOSwu4BVrAVF/s-l225.jpg Carl, that's for the wood stove in your smoker I think.
bongobobny Posted February 20, 2017 #10 Posted February 20, 2017 Gary, give Carl a break, he just traded in his Model T just a few months ago, stepped up to a model B I think...
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